January 25, 2013

A French woman convicted of kidnapping makes her way home after Mexico reverses her 60-year jail sentence. Jessica Gray reports.

TRANSCRIPTFrench national Florence Cassez is en route for Paris after years behind bars in Mexico. On Wednesday night, she tasted freedom for the first time after a Mexican court ruled her trial had been tainted and ordered her immediate release. Cassez was arrested in 2005 and found guilty of being involved in a kidnapping ring with her former boyfriend and Zodiacs gang leader. She was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment. Police later admitted to forcing her to participate in a staged scene where officers freed kidnap victims. Earlier on Wednesday, Supreme Court judges said Cassez's rights had been violated. Just hours after, she boarded a plane leaving Mexico City and was expected to arrive in France on Thursday. Her conviction caused a long and bitter diplomatic dispute between Mexico and France where former French President Nicolas Sarkozy demanded her release.

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A French woman convicted of kidnapping makes her way home after Mexico reverses her 60-year jail sentence. Jessica Gray reports.

TRANSCRIPTFrench national Florence Cassez is en route for Paris after years behind bars in Mexico. On Wednesday night, she tasted freedom for the first time after a Mexican court ruled her trial had been tainted and ordered her immediate release. Cassez was arrested in 2005 and found guilty of being involved in a kidnapping ring with her former boyfriend and Zodiacs gang leader. She was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment. Police later admitted to forcing her to participate in a staged scene where officers freed kidnap victims. Earlier on Wednesday, Supreme Court judges said Cassez's rights had been violated. Just hours after, she boarded a plane leaving Mexico City and was expected to arrive in France on Thursday. Her conviction caused a long and bitter diplomatic dispute between Mexico and France where former French President Nicolas Sarkozy demanded her release.